Carton for incandescent lamps



Oct. 2, 1951 w, mN R 2,569,733

CARTON FOR INCANDESCENT LAMPS Filed Oct. 24, 1947 2 Sheet-s-Sheet l 3 INVENTOR.

Mud/v ,4 fi/vaza Q Z WM AT'IOR NEYS- Oct. 2, 1951 w. A. RINGLER CARTON FOR INCANDESCENT LAMPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 24, 1947 III! lira-.14.

IN VEN TOR.

44/4) 14. fizvaAs ATTORNEYS- Patented Oct. 2, 1951 2,569.7 33 CARTON FOR INCANDESCENT LAMPS William A. Ringler,

Wayne, Pa., asslgnor to The Gardner Board and Carton 00., a corporation of Ohio Application October 24, 1947, Serial No. 781,922

2 Claims. (01. 229-42) This application is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 757,787, filed June 28, 1947, now abandoned, and bearing the same title.

My invention has to do with the provision of packages for incandescent bulbs or other fragile articles of a like nature. It has for its principal objects the following:

The provision of a carton as a package in place of the conventional corrugated sleeve. This in itself provides a number of advantages such as a more attractive printed package, a greater security, in that the lamps are not likely to fall out of the package as is the case with corrugated sleeves, the ability to stack large numbers of the packages on shelves and the like, and greater facility in packing and shipment.

The provision of a carton structure which will hold a group of the incandesent lamps or similar articles, in the exemplary embodiment a group of three, which has substantial advantages in merchandising.

The provision of a carton which will have a cushioning effect on the lamps, and which will sustain pressure in a plurality of directions as well as moderate impact while preserving the lamps from breakage.

The provision of a carton and packing method which is extremely simple and which requires a minimum of operations, both in setting up the carton and in loading the lamps into it, so that the structure of this invention is well adapted for packing lamps from the end of the lamp manufacturing machines. These machines currently operate at speeds of from 1000 to 1200 lamps per hour, leaving a bare three seconds per lamp for inspecting, testing and packing.

The provision of a structure having the advantages set forth above, in the form of a onepiece paperboard carton of low cost.

These and other objects of my invention which will be set forth'hereinafter or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specifications, I accomplish in the structure and arrangement of parts and in that procedure of which I shall now set forth an exemplary emhodiment. Reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a plan view of an exemplary paperboard blank for my carton.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the carton in erected or set up condition and ready to be filled.

igure 3 is a the initial step $8110!!- partial perspective view showing of inserting the lamp bulbs in the Yet again, the bottom,

Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of the filled carton showing an initial step in positioning the partition member.

Figure 5 is a partial plan view showing the filled carton with a partition member in position therein.

Figure 6 is, a similar partial perspective view of the filled carton showing the result of endwise pressure thereon.

Figure 7 is a partial sectional view taken along the line '|'i of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a perspective package about to be closed.

Figure 9 is a package.

Figure 10 is a partial perspective view of an assembly of filled cartons.

Figure 11 is a partial sectional view taken along the line H-H of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a other form of my carton.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the carton in the erected form with the lid in partially closed position.

Figure 14 is a similar view showing the carton in fully closed condition.

Figure 15 is a sectional view taken along the section line Iii-J5 inFigure 14.

In essence, the preferred form of my invention comprises a relatively light weight, one-piece carton and a partition structure, as will hereinafter be described in detail. Preferably, though not necessarily, the partition structure is integral with the blank for the one-piece carton. The size of the carton will be varied in accord ance with the size, shape and number of lamps or similar articles to be packaged therein as will be readily understood by the skilled worker in the art in the light of the teachings which follow. The one-piece carton will have a bottom wall, front and rear side walls, end walls, and a top or closure with tuck flaps. There are many known styles of one-piece boxes meeting these specifications, and certain aspects of my invention are applicable to all of them. Except as hereinafter claimed the particular construction employed for holding the box in erected condition may be varied throughout the gamut of known constructions. For example, the bottom, side and end walls may be of a type requiring to be glued about a mandrel. Again the side walls may have tabs, and the end walls may have extensions which are turned inwardly over the tabs to maintain the erected condition of the box. side and end walls, with glue flaps and appropriate diagonal score lines,

view of the filled perspective view of the closed plan view of a blank for yet an- I 781,921, filed October flat blank. It requires no and [1. These flaps are 3 may be joined in knocked down condition to form those structures known in the art as in' fold or "outfold boxes.

Nevertheless, in the aspect of providing a box without the addition of sepavision of a shipping container holding a number of the cartons herein described), will afford the greatest possible protection for the bulbs in handling'and shipment, a particular form of carton has shown itself to be superior in a series of rigorous tests. I shall hereinafter describe this particular form as being the best embodiment of the invention known to me.

Also, I prefer a simple be set up form of box which may entirely by hand or with the aid of a simple erecting mechanism such as that de-' jFigure-l is a simple operation.

scribed in my copending application Serial No.. v

for Setting up Cartons. The exemplary box herein described requires no folding or gluing in the plant of the box manufacturer, and is shipped to the lamp factory in the form ofa gluing upon erection; and the mechanism by which the cartons are erected is so simple and inexpensive that a carton erecting device may be provided at the end of each lamp making machine.

Referring to Figure 1, I have shown the blank for my exemplary box. It may be printed as desired, and will be formed on the usual cutting and scoring press to provide a front side wall I, a bottom wall 2, a rear side wall 3, and a top wall 4, articulated together in the order named.

To the ends of the bottom wall 2, I articulate end wall members 5 and 6. The top wall is provided with side wings or tuck flaps 8 and 9, and a front tuck flap 12. To the ends of the end walls I articulate locking flaps indicated at l3, l4, [6

of generally tapered construction; but I provide them with end pieces comprising central portions l8, and which have extending tabs l9 and of minor area, set off from the central portions by score lines as shown.

Dot-dash lines in this figure, and in Figure 12 indicate lines of scoring upon which the board will bend.

At the positions where the end pieces of the locking flaps will come in the erected box (in which the locking flaps are folded over outside the front and rear side walls) I provide the front and rear walls I and 3 each with a pair of U- shaped cuts 2|. The tabs formed by these cuts are set off by score lines 22 as shown.

In the preferred form of my carton, I cut the blanks from boxboard in such a way that the grain runs longitudinally of the front and rear walls, top and bottom panels and partitions. This very greatly increases the longitudinal stiffness of the partition wings hereinafter described.

I also provide a partition structure. This comprises a central portion 23 and extending wings 24 and 25 set off from the central portion by score lines 26 and 21. Cut lines 28 and 29 are substantially prolongations of these score lines and set off a tab member 30 which is a prolongation of the central portion 23 and is articuated thereto by a score line 3|. Near the ends of the wings 24 and 25 I form cut lines 32 and 33. These demark tabs 34 and 35 which are set off from the remainder of the wings by score lines 36 and 31. I

While the partition member may be entirely separate from the box blank and handled as a separate piece, I prefer to form it integral with 24, 1947 and entitled Device I end pieces and' the 4 the blank. I have indicated the central portion 23 as articulated to the front wall I by a score line 38. The extending wings 24 and 25 are, however, severed from the remainder of the upper edge of the front wall I by cut lines as indicated in the drawing.

I may also if desired, form a pair of notches and 40 in the front tuck flap l2 of'the to! wall'l. j Q

The setting up of a box from the blank of The front wall I and the rear wall 3 are erected with respect to the bottom wall 2, and the end walls 5 and 5 are likewise bent upwardly at right angles to the bottom wall. The lockin flaps l3, lliarenext bent over against the outside'faces ofi the,front-and rear side position's'fthei-end pieces of the tapered locking the tabs formed by the U-shaped cuts 24'." Tolock the box in erected position itis only-necessary. to, thrust the end pieces of the lockingijflaps to the inside of the carton, these tabs formed by the cut-lines 2ltending'to project inwardly of the front and rear sidewalls of the cushioning effect as will be evident in Figures v 5, and

Figure 2 shows the box in set up condition, with the't'op' wall and its associated flaps formingfa cover member in the open position, and with thepartition member extending outwardly. It may be completely folded over if desired so as to lie againstithe front face of the front wall I, but this is usually not necessary.

The carton is now in a position to be filled. This is done by placing in it the desired number of incandescent lamps, i. e. the number for which the carton has been designed.

In Figure 3, I have shown three incandescent lamps 4|, nested relationship. The bases of the two sidewise disposed lamps 4| and 43 extend toward the rear of the carton, while the base of the;

intermediate lamp 42 extends toward the front wall of the carton. The carton is made oversize with respect to the lamps in all dimensions so that it accepts these lamps loosely in the nested relationship which has just been described.

The'next operation is to position the partition structure in the carton. The partition structure is placed within the carton in such a way that the wing elements 24 and 25 lie between adjacent incandescent lamps in the assembly, while the central portion 23 lies inside of and parallel to the front wall I of the carton. In accomplishing this disposition, the partition structure folds along the score lines 26 and 21 so as to bring the wings 24 and 25 to an angular position with respect to the central portion 23. In my preferred construction, where the partition structure is integral with and hinged to the main carton along the score line 38, it is only necessary to swing the central portion of the partition structure inwardly. This is illustrated in an intermediate stage in Figure 4.

As the partition structure is swung to the interior position, the wing members 24 and 25 assume their positions between the lamps as is shown in Figure 5. The length of the wing members 24 and 25 is made to be somewhat greater than the diagonal distance between the edges of the central portion 23 of the partition structure and the far corners of the erected carton. As a consequence, end portions of the wings 24 and 25 tend to relate themselves angularly to I4, l8 and walls-l and 3. This.

carton providing amuseful 42, and 43 placed in the carton in the remainder of these wings, and the wings themselves assume a slightly bowed position.

Certain additional actions occur during the positioning of the partition structure in the carton. The tab is bent upwardly and overlies the base of the lamp 42, while the tabs 34 and on the ends of the wings 24 and 25 likewise are bent upwardly and overlie the bases of the bulbs 4| and 43. Where the partition structure is integral with the blank as illustrated, these actions occur automatically. It has already been indicated that the carton is oversize with respect to the lamp assembly. The action of the tabs 30, 34, and 35 is to hold the bases of the bulbs down against the bottom wall '2 of the carton so as to prevent displacement of the lamps and so as to prevent the lamps rattling around inside the carton. The width of the wing members 24 and 25 of the partition structure is the same as the width of the side and end walls of the carton itself.

The carton is closedby bringing down the top wall t and positioning the closure tuck flaps hand 9 inside the end walls of the carton. The

tuck flap it may also be folded within the carton, in which event ll slit it at the positions of the score lines it and 21 in the partition memher, or otherwise configure the flap as hereinafter described in connection with Figures 12 to 15. In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 9 incluive, the front tuck flap is folded over outside the front wall 5 and end portions of it beyond the notches and 30 are positioned behind the inciting flaps it and ii. The engagement is highly fritcional, and the is thus held in place against accidental displacement in ordinary handling.

Another type of friction retention for the cover may be obtained by omitting cuts in the front tuck flap l2, but instead cutting inwardly along the score lines 26 and 21 of the partition structure from the top edge of the front wall I to provide slits to accept the front tuck flap. It will be understood that these slits will have a depth equivalent to the width of the front tuck flap, but will not be of the full length of the score lines 26 and 21, so that the partition structure remains articulated at its central portion 23 to the front wall of the carton.

It will be seen that the operation of filling the carton, positioning the partition structure therein and closing the carton is extremely simple and rapid.

My carton is designed to provide a high degree of cushioning for the incandescent lamps. As has been indicated, the wings 24 and 25 of the partition structure have the same depth as the cover or to wall t front, side and rear walls of the box itself. As a consequence, these wings, extending across the interior of the box slantwise, act to space the bottom wall 2 and the top wall 4, permitting my carton to sustain very substantial compressive forces applied against these walls. Because the carton is oversize in this direction, the walls 3 and 4 can be somewhat deflected, with concurrent bending of the wings 24 and 25, as by pressure or a blow, without the force of the pressure or blow being transmitted directly to the incandescent lamps.

has also been indicated, my box is oversize in the remaining two directions. Figure 5 shows the general disposition of the partition wings 24 and 25 under normal conditions. Figure 6 indicates that if endwise pressure is applied to the box, as in the direction of the arrows so as to deflect inwardly the end walls thereof, the lamp bulbs are able to move closer together. In doing so, they further deflect or bend the partition wings 24 and 25. Then the pressure is relieved, the natural resilience of these wings causes them to tend to lose this further deflection or bowing, thereby holding the lamps snugly. It will also be appreciated. that pressure may be applied to the front and rear walls of the box and will produce a similar deflection of these walls accompanied by bowing or flexing of the partition wings 24 and 25, and a movement of the bulbs themselves inside the oversize carton. The resilience of the partition wings 24 and 25 again assists the box to spring outwardly to the normal positions of the front and rear walls when the pressure is relieved. Thus the force of pressure or impact is not applied directly to the bulbs so long as it can be absorbed by deflection of the walls of the carton, the locking tongues and tabs, and the partition elements within it. My carton structure, therefore, is of equal if not greater effectiveness in protecting incandescent bulbs than the conventional corrugated sleeves, while having the additional advantages set forth above.

My carton is primarily designed to hold groups of incandescent bulbs forming a convenient unit for merchandising or use. The cartons, being rectangular in shape and of substantial stiffness in proportion to the weight of the contents, are readily stacked in large numbers on the shelves of stores, whereas the conventional corrugated sleeves tend to become distorted on one end and are diificult and frequently impossible to stack safely. My cartons are readily opened, and the lamps can simply be lifted out of them for testing. They are as readily replaced; The carton forms a convenient means by which the sales unit of lamps can be carried by the purchaser; and it is not liable to accidental opening which would permit the lamps to fall out. It goes without saying that additional locking means for the cover member may be provided if desired.

My cartons are also intended for use in the shipment of incandescent bulbs. A large number of the cartons are enclosed within a conventional shipping case, usually of corrugated board. The combination of the case and the cushioning effect of my cartons permits the handling, shipment and storage of the bulbs with great safety.

Since the lamps are nested in my cartons, 18 to 20% less space is required per lamp as compared with the conventional sleeves. Thus shipping containers to hold the same number of lamps can be 18 to 20% smaller, efiecting a saving in the cost of the containers, in freight rates, and in shipping and storage space.

Since the lamps are nested within individual cartons of my invention, as explained above, an additional cushioning effect may be obtained in a shipping case containing a number of such cartons by reversing alternate cartons in such an assembly. In Figures 10 and 11, I have shown part of an assembly of individual cartons which may be thought of as packed in a shipping case. A plurality of the cartons, such as cartons 44-48 are shown in side-by-side juxtaposition, with alternate ones of the cartons reversed, as for example the cartons 45 and 41. As will be clear from Figure 11, this brings the base of each lamp in any carton next the bulb end of the corresponding lamps in adjacent cartons on both sides.

The reversal of alternate cartons in such assemblies is facilitated by printing or marking the .and [2b. Along the score line by which these tuck flap elements are articulated to the top wall there is formed a central slot 50 having a length equivalent to, or somewhat greater than, the length of the score line 38, by which the partition element is articulated to the front wall of the box. The approaching edges of the tuck flap elements [2a and l2b are prolonged toward each other inwardly of the ends of this slot as at 5| and 52. Preferably the corners of the tuck flap elements are rounded as shown. The side walls 5 and 5 may be cut away slightly at their front corners as indicated at 55 and 56 to enable the front corners of the cover to be engaged by the fingers.

Figure 13 shows the box in setup condition with the lid closed except at front end portions 53 and 54 which are slightly raised. The distance between the prolongations 5i and 52 of the front tuck flap elements is less than the length of the board along the score line 38 of the partition structure, so that these prolongations can engage beneath and lock against the board along this line. The locking engagement is attained in completing the closure of the box by bringing these corners down into their normal plane as shown in solid lines in Figure 15.

The type of lock in this modification of my structure is very secure while having the advantage of requiring no extra operation on the part of the box manufacturer or box user other than the flexing of the top wall during closure as indicated in Figure 14. To release the lock the front corners of the top wall are again brought upwardly prior to the raising of the top wall.

Modifications may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit of it. Having thus described my invention in an exemplary embodiment, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A one-piece paperboard purpose described comprising a front wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall, and a top wall in articulation in the order named, end walls articulated to the ends of the bottom wall, tuck fiaps articulated to the side and'front edges of the top wall, means holding the bottom, front, rear and end walls in erectedcondition to provide a carton for incandescent lamps, and a partition structure having a central portion and extending wings demarked from said central portion by substantially parallel score lines, said central portion being articulated to the top edge of said front wall centrally thereof, said extending wings being of a depth equal to the depth of said side and end walls and extending in operative position from the front wall to the outer edges of the rear wall, and tab members formed by slits in said central portion of said partition structure and at the ends of said wings, said tab members being foldable to engage the bases of incandescent lamps arranged in nestled relationship in said carton.

2. A paperboard structure for the purposes described comprising'a front wall, a bottom wall,

a rear wall, and a top wall in articulation in the order named, end walls articulated to the ends of the bottom wall, tuck flaps articulated to side and front edges of the top wall, means for holding the bottom, front, rear and end walls in erected condition, said means comprising locking flaps articulated to the ends of said end wall, said locking flaps overlapping the end portions of the front and rear walls, said front and rear walls having inwardly struck tab portions forming portions forming openings to receive the ends of said locking flaps thereby securing said locking flaps to said front and rear wall, a partitionstructure for the structure having a central portion and extend-' ingwings demarked from said central portion by substantially parallel score lines, said central portion being articulated to the front edge of said front wall centrally thereof, said extending wings of said partition structure extending in operative position from the front wall to the outer edges of said rear wall, and tab members formed by slits in said central portion of said partition structure and at the ends of said wings, said tab members being foldable to engage the bases of incandescent lamps arranged in nested relation in said paperboard structure, said inwardly struck tab portions and said locking flaps engaging said front wall forming cushioning means for the heads of outermost ones of said i incandescent lamps.

WILLIAM A. RINGLER.

The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 489,993 Spittell Jan. 1'7, 1893 630,007 Russell Aug. 1, 1899 1,888,855 Fuller -Nov. 22, 1932 1,124,955 Quagliotti July 26,1938 2,163,290 Powell June 20, 1939 2,197,510 Ringler Apr. 16, 1940 2,255,223 Lighter Sept. 9, 1941 2,306,328 Biberthaler Dec. 22, 1942 2,447,563 Buttery Aug. 24, 1948 

